PROVIDENCE — In a glorious Mass of Reception at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on Jan. 26, nine weeks after being appointed by Pope Francis to serve as coadjutor Bishop of Providence with the right of succession, Most Rev. Richard G. Henning, D.D., S.T.D., presented the papal bull, signed by the Holy Father, to Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, D.D., authenticating his appointment. Click for photos and more!
Emmanuel House Homeless Shelter Open 24 hours as Warming Center in Providence; Emergency Fuel Oil Delivery and Heating Assistance Hotline Remains Monitored Over Weekend for all R.I. Residents
PROVIDENCE — Ordination to the Office of Bishop is, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the “fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders.” With this esteemed position come symbolic marks of the office that distinguishes bishop from priest. Many of these have been part of the Church’s rich tradition since the Middle Ages, and each has its own significance.
PROVIDENCE — According to the Code of Canon Law, the pope “can appoint ex officio a coadjutor bishop who also has special faculties. A coadjutor bishop possesses the right of succession,” meaning he will automatically become diocesan bishop upon his predecessor’s retirement or passing.
The 20th anniversary of one of the deadliest building fires in U.S. history is fast approaching. Sunday, Feb. 19, will mark 20 years since a fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick left an indelible mark on the entire Southern New England community. Pyrotechnics used in a concert by the 80s band Great White set a backdrop ablaze and the fire quickly spread. When security for the group turned concertgoers away from using the back door to flee, many of the 400 in attendance headed for the front door, jamming the principal means of escape. When firefighters began removing the bodies of the 100 victims the next morning, they discovered that it appeared smoke inhalation and suffocation from the trampling had caused more deaths than the flames themselves.
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. — For a kid, life in this blue-collar village in Nassau County, Long Island, was pretty good. Family bonds, grounded in the Catholic faith, were strong.
Upon hearing or reading the words, Dominus vobiscum, Catholics of a mature age, and increasingly today, lots of younger folks, will instinctively respond with, Et cum spiritu tuo. “The Lord be with you . . . And with your spirit.” These words of greeting from the traditional Latin Mass have become second nature to many Catholics. And I use them to introduce my thoughts about the lasting impact of tradition and emotion in the religious experience.
WARWICK — It was a cloudy Saturday morning. A group of young teenagers looking forward with a sense of joy and optimism intently work on a test that will determine how the next step of their student life will unfold. This was the scene at the entrance exam for the Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Hope, held on January 15. Since Bishop Thomas J. Tobin’s approval of Chesterton Academy as a Catholic school, interest in the school has been growing.
